Ambiance: Charming classic French bistro décor. Warm and friendly environment suited for all types of diners.

Seating: Table Seating: 60, bar 10, outdoor seating 40

Private Parties: Yes, upon request

Special Promotions: Yes

Hours: Brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (Sat-Sun)

Lunch 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (Mon-Fri)

Dinner 5 p.m.-11 p.m. (Sun-Thu) and 5 p.m.-

midnight (Fri-Sat)

Price Range: Main dishes average $Under $20

Signature Dish: Traditional Steak au Poivre and Papillote du

Saumon

Credit cards: Yes, Amex, Visa, Mastercard

Take Out and Delivery: Yes

____________________________________________________

By Nancy Walman

CHEZ LUCIENNE CELEBRATES Quality Bistro Cuisine

With a menu featuring dishes such as onion soup, quiche Lorraine, poulet basquaise with French fries, calf’s liver with puree and pork shank with pomme darphin, you get the idea that Chez Lucienne takes its kitchen seriously, when it comes to French Bistro classics. And you’re right, but don’t miss sampling some of the elegant contemporary offerings like : tuna tartar with wasabi-spiked caviar, cucumber, red pepper puree, and parmesan cheese crisps. You won’t find a better version of this dish anywhere, although you’ll probably pay 50% more than the $12.95 price tag that Chez Lucienne charges (and that’s one of the most expensive appetizers). The escargots are garlicky and wonderful as well.

While Chez Lucienne may be the first and only French Brasserie in Harlem, the deep rooted kinship that Harlem and Paris have shared goes back many decades. Beginning after WWI, many writers, artists, and musicians who emerged from the Harlem Jazz scene, moved to Paris where they were accepted with open arms.

American Jazz was the fuel that drove the vibrant new cultural scene in Paris. Specifically in Montmartre: a thriving and color-blind community where people of all backgrounds and lifestyles came together to listen, philosophize, eat, drink and live. Many of these same musicians came out of the Harlem Renaissance and played the Harlem clubs such as the Cotton Club, the Lenox Lounge and Swing Street.

The Brasserie Spirit Comes To Harlem

Chez Lucienne, Harlem’s own French Brasserie, has been a hugely popular success ever since it opened its doors a mere six months ago. The Brasserie/café is historically a place where people of different walks of life come together to exchange ideas, be entertained, meet, and enjoy life over good food, wine and company. Chez Lucienne embodies and celebrates this spirit of food, drink, and commeraderie.

Executive Chef Thomas Oberton is from Lyon, France, and cooked with Guy Savoy in Paris. His talent extends to a Moroccan festival Wednesday nights complete with belly dancers (we hope to go back and do a report later on), The rest of the cast includes Chef/Partner Matthew Tivey have created a menu of classic French fare served in a very convivial and decidedly French ambiance that includes a spick and span room with wainscoting, ceiling fans and hanging bulb lights, exposed brick walls, green banquettes, set with sparkling white tablecloths, faux gas lights and a friendly bar that turns out first rate cocktails. The wine list is short and well priced, with loads of choices by the glass and the service is non-nonsense, friendly and helpful. The clientele is a mix of good looking locals and international types, who know a find.

In the entree department, you’ll find fresh seafood and a fine steak, but we loved a really authentic cassoulet toulousain, chunk full of sausages, lamb and duck and fascinating rendition of Quenelle de poisson or light-as-air sole dumplings in a zesty crayfish reduction with basmati rice.

The restaurant just hired a new pastry chef and the results show promise with a floating island, homemade ice creams and a tarte tatin the stars. A very special place!

Catherine Zeta-Jones, in her Broadway debut, will play the role of Desirée Armfeldt. Angela Lansbury will play Madame Armfeldt. Alexander Hanson will play Fredrik Egerman, a role he created in the recent Trevor Nunn-directed production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory and in the West End.

The cast also features Aaron Lazar (Les Misérables) as Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm, Erin Davie (Grey Gardens) as Countess Charlotte Malcolm, Leigh Ann Larkin (Gypsy) as Petra, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka as Henrik Egerman, and Ramona Mallory (The Fantasticks) as Anne Egerman. The cast also includes Bradley Dean, Marissa McGowan, Betsy Morgan, Karen Murphy, Jayne Paterson and Kevin David Thomas. Additional casting, including the role of Fredrika Armfeldt, will be announced at a later date.

SHREK THE MUSICAL® is excited to announce “SHREKtoberfest,” a month-long festival of “OGRE-SIZED” events leading up to and celebrating the production’s one year anniversary on Broadway on November 8th. Beginning Tuesday, October 6th, 40 performances of SHREK THE MUSICAL® will have tickets that can be purchased for 40% off. In addition, through the first week of November, there will be exciting opportunities for talkbacks with cast members, free giveaways, and special offers on NYC attractions and dining.

Puro Chile, a new multimedia retail concept, brings a singular Chilean selection of artisanal wines, gourmet foods, compelling art crafts and the country’s spectacular sights to the heart of Manhattan.

The 2,900 square foot store, designed by internationally celebrated Chilean architect Felipe Assadi, will open on September 23rd at 161 Grand Street. The founders, a group of internationally successful entrepreneurs, set out to create a modern experiential destination that engages the five senses and combine to tell the story of Chile. Co-Founder Mauricio Banchieri states, “A storefront at the busy, international crossroads of SoHo is the ultimate way to offer a portal to our exciting world of Chile.”

The Single Gourmet, the longest running international dining and travel club in the world, is planning one of its most exciting trips ever – NEW YEAR’S IN SOUTH AMERICA from December 26, 2009 -January 4th 2010. Haute cuisine, award-winning wines, 5-star hotels, nightlife and hot tangos till dawn…all the ingredients for one unforgettable holiday.

Depart New York on the evening of December 26, 2009 for Santiago, Chile and the 5-star Intercontinental Hotel in the heart of the city. Tour the metro area and visit the area’s internationally acclaimed vineyards. Wine and dine at Santiago’s best restaurants and cueca until dawn. Travel to Mendoza, Argentina and, along the way, enjoy the breathtaking panorama of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in all the Americas. From 5-star Park Hyatt as home, trips are planned around the city and wineries, with special tastings of Argentina’s famous Malbec wines. The only thing that comes close to excitement of the sunsets behind the Andes is the celebration planned on New Year’s Eve at the Park Hyatt, a party that begins with a gala dinner and continues with a post-midnight blowout worthy of being the first event of 2010!

Memorable Seafood By Way of Prince Edward Island

By Nancy Walman

Located in the former premises, of Zócalo, arguably New York’s best Mexican restaurant, owners Bobby and Laura Shapiro, have imported their Prince Edward Island success to Manhattan and it is a roaring success. There is a buzzing bar area that turns out potent libations as well as entertainment, provided by the quick hands of an oyster-shucking whiz. The main dining room, sectioned in two areas, offers an open kitchen and a sparse, clean atmosphere with shiny wooden floors, walls hung with colorful paintings of P.E.I and a lovely mural commissioned by the same local artist. Further back are beautiful photographs of an award winning P.E.I. photographer.

The specialty of the house may be those plump, luscious mussels in no less than 23 sauces, all made to order (and they are wonderful), but don’t fail to sample the best oysters in town. On our visit 6 varieties from the east and west coast. They were so delicious they didn’t need the very good sauces that accompanied them.

The House Specialty

Specials are also really special. We loved two appetizers, an olive oil poached octopus and a miraculous “Pacu” fish from Brazil, served “Rib-Style with an Asian glaze. Fabulous and worth a detour, as the French would say.

All are accompanied by good skin-on French fries and country bread. The wine list is a real joy with plenty bottles under $40, with the outstanding La Caravelle Rose Champagne priced at $95. The beer list, too, is awesome. We loved the two Canadian draught specials, one dark the other a perky apple pilsner. And wonder of wonders, there is an eco-friendly filtered water (still or sparkling) for just $5.50 the bottle.

Leave room for great (but light) desserts like several varieties of a play on jelly-donuts including wild blueberry and Meyer lemon.

Service is courteous and efficient and you’ll like the warm, family feel of the restaurant. When the Shapiro’s are manning their two stores on P.E.I, their lovely daughter, Alexandra is there to greet customers and keep the show running. Don’t be surprised to see a 2nd Flex Mussels open in your neighborhood. In the meantime, make you reservation now. Flex Mussels is deservedly packed and rates A Major on The Walman Report.

CRUISE WEST ANNOUNCES SIX CAPTIVATING VOYAGES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA THAT FOLLOW THE ADVENTURES OF ODYSSEUS

Smithsonian Journeys Guest Speakers, Extraordinary Included Excursions, Air Credit or Free Venice Land Tour and up to 21 Percent Early Booking Savings

Six distinct Mediterranean voyages, from Alexandria, Egypt to Honfleur, France, mark the second chapter of small-ship exploration line Cruise West’s epic world adventure, Voyages of the Great Explorers. Delving deep into the heart of the Mediterranean — rich in myth and mystery — guests will journey to many fabled destinations in Greece and Turkey, and savor the cultural richness and sensory pleasures of Tunisia, Algeria, Italy, Sicily, Malta, Spain, Portugal and France. Guests can enjoy savings up to 21 percent savings if voyage is booked and paid in full by October 15, 2009.

There is incredible value with every voyage. In addition to an included excursion at every port, each of the six voyages will be enhanced by an extraordinary ‘Ultimate Explorers Experiences’ (UEE) excursion, designed to bring guests into direct personal contact with fascinating peoples, cultures and natural wonders. Engaging presentations by Smithsonian Journeys experts and localacclaimed authorities on the region’s culture, history and current events will bring each region to life.

Smithsonian Journeys experts illustrate Mediterranean history Smithsonian Journeysguest speaker and author Jodi Magnes, Ph.D. in Classical Archaeologyinjects color into the classicsthroughoutVoyage 5: Alexandria to Istanbul. Magnes will provide rich insights to the region as guests explore Paphos, birthplace of Aphrodite; Hadrian’s Gate, constructed by the second century Roman emperor Hadrian; and ancient Troy. A stop at the island of Lesvos offers a tantalizing glimpse of traditional Greek life before the voyage concludes at the gate of the Western world, historic and exotic Istanbul. Voyage highlights include an exclusive evening concert and reception amongst the ancient Roman ruins on Ephesus (UEE).

The 14-night voyage departs May 4, 2010; prices start at $10,395 per person before savings. Add-on: post-cruise 3-night Land Tour of Cappadocia.

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